Pressurization apparatus.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a pressurization apparatus . _. ^■

The main purpose of the present invention is to propose pressurization apparatus particularly efficient, structurally simple, reliable, cheap and manageable with electronic programmable means . This result was reached, in accordance with the invention, by adopting the idea of making a pressurization apparatus having the characteristics indicated in claim 1. Other features of the present invention are the subject of dependent claims. The advantages and features of the present invention will be more and better understood by any technician of this field through the following description and the annexed drawings provided by way of example but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:

-Fig.l is a simplified block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with the invention;

-Fig.2 is a simplified schematic block diagram concerning the control of the valves and sensors shown in the scheme of Fig.l.

With reference to the exemplificative diagram of Fig.l, an apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises:

-a first pressurized tank (1) with an inlet for a duct (10) which supplies water, an outlet for a pipe (11) through which water can exit the tank to be directed towards a first point of use ( PI), with an output connected to the input of a first pressure multiplier (Ml) through a conduit (12), and a second input connected the output of a second pressure multiplier (M2) through a conduit (13); and -a second pressurized tank (2) with an inlet for a duct (20) which supplies water, an outlet for a pipe (21) through which water can exit the tank to be directed towards a second point of use ( P2), with an output connected to the input of the second pressure multiplier (M2) through a conduit (22), and an input connected to the output of the first pressure multiplier (Ml) through a conduit (23).

The outlets of pressure multipliers (Ml, M2) are connected to a buffer tank (P) through respective ducts (31, 32) and the tank (P) is connected with a compressor (C) through a duct (30). The compressor (C) is connected, on its outlet, to further inlets of the tanks with (1, 2) through respective ducts (CI, C2) .

With reference to the diagram of Fig.l, the inputs and outputs for water are at the bottom of the tanks (1) and (2), while the same tanks (1) and (2)) are connected with multipliers pressure (Ml, M2 ) and the compressor (C) in correspondence of their upper bases.

On each of the ducts (10), (11), (20), (21), (12), (13), (22), (23), (CI) and (C2) is mounted a corresponding solenoid valve (V10 ), (Vll) (V20) (V21) (V12) (V13) (V22) (V23), (VC1) and (VC2).

Each of said valves (V10) (Vll) (V20) (V21) (V12) (V13) (V22) (V23), (VC1) and (VC2) is connected to a programmable electronic unit control (VC) . At the same control unit (CV) are also connected sensors (SP1, SP2) that can detect the water pressure and sensors (P10, P20) that can detect the air pressure in the tanks (1) and (2).

An example of using the system described above is as follows.

At an early stage of the working cycle, the tank (1) is · empty, i.e. it contains only air at a pressure higher than the water pressure, while the tank (2) is full, i.e. it contains water. The valve (V10) and the valve (V21) are opened, while valves (Vll) and (V20) are closed, so that water is introduced in the tank (1) . · In this phase, also the valves (V12) and (V23) are open, while valves (V13) (V22), (VC1) and (VC2) are closed.

The air coming out of the tank (1) is introduced into the pressure multiplier (Ml) and, from there, through the valve (V23) , in the tank (2) that, consequently, is pressurized and feeds the point of use (P2) .

By emptying the tank (2), the conditions of the two tanks are reversed, as the tank (2) is empty, i.e. it contains only air, and the tank (1) is full, i.e. it contains water.

At this point, the cycle described above is reversed, so that it is made use of air of tank (2) - in which water is fed through the conduit (20) after opening the valve (V20) - to pressurize the tank (1)· and then feed the point of use (PI) . In this case, the valve (V10) is closed and the pressure multiplier involved is the second (M2): the air of tank (2), after the entry of water in the same tank, reaches the multiplier pressure (M2) through the duct (22) and valve (V22). Then, through the valve (V13) and the duct (13) . compressed air is directed into the tank (1) . The water coming out of the later, passing through the valve (Vll) that is open, feeds the point of use (PI).

The operation of said valves is controlled by the programmable unit (CV) .

As said above, the exits of pressure transmitters (Ml) and (M2) are connected with the buffer (P) that feeds the compressor (C) .

When the air pressure at the entrance of one of the two pressure multipliers (Ml, M2 ) - detected by the sensors P10 and P20 is lower than a preset value, the corresponding valve (VC1) or (VC2) is opened and compressed air produced by the compressor (C) is introduced therein and passes through that pressure multiplier (Ml) or (M2) .

Similarly, when the air pressure in the buffer tank (P) is greater than a preset value, the valve (VC1) or (VC2) of the tank (1) or (2) from which water is exiting at that moment is opened and compressed air produced by the compressor (C) is entered therein and passes through the corresponding pressure multiplier (Ml) or (M2) .

The air pressure in the buffer tank (P) is measured by a corresponding sensor (PP) .

In practice, it is used the pressure of the liquid that enters one of the two tanks for transferring air (or equivalent gas), through a corresponding pressure multiplier, to the other tank in which, therefore, there will be an internal pressure equal to the initial pressure of the first tank. Still in other words, the movement of the air (or equivalent gas) is determined by the pressure of the fluid that enters the tanks of the system. In practice, in an apparatus in accordance with the invention there are two tanks (1, 2) containing air and a liquid (water in the example given above) alternatively used to feed two corresponding points of use (PI, P2), which tanks pressurize each other, being linked together so that air of the first tank, can flow, suitably compressed, in the second tank when liquid feeds the first tank and vice versa. The use of pressure multipliers (Ml, M2 ) on the lines connecting the air side of the tanks (1, 2) further improves the functioning of the system. With the recovery of exhaust air from the multipliers (Ml, M2 ) the consumption of air and energy is reduced.

As depicted in the diagram of Fig.l, the compressor (C) is associated with an a'ir intake (CA) through which air can be taken outside periodically to compensate for any losses and to realize the initial pressurization of the tank (1 ) .

In practice, the construction details may vary in any equivalent way as far as the shape, dimensions, elements disposition, nature of the used materials are concerned, without nevertheless departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea and, thereby, remaining within the limits of the protection granted to the present patent.